From staff reports

DANVILLE — Geisinger Health is continuing its rollout of security screenings at hospital entrances across central and northeastern Pennsylvania, with Geisinger Lewistown Hospital expected to begin screening visitors this fall.

The health system announced that Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital and Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital will become the next facilities to implement screenings when they begin July 13.

Since March, Geisinger has introduced weapons screenings at the public entrances of Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital and Geisinger Medical Center Muncy.

Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center is expected to begin screenings by the end of the summer, while Geisinger Lewistown Hospital and Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton are slated to follow in the fall.

“Just in a short time, this screening program has already identified and helped keep hundreds of weapons, such as knives and handguns, out of our hospitals,” Sean McGinley, Geisinger’s associate vice president of police and security operations, said in a news release. “We have, unfortunately, seen an increase of violent action against our staff, and this is one of many tools we use to make sure we have a safe environment for everyone who comes to Geisinger.”

Under the policy, weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, are prohibited at all Geisinger facilities. Any weapon discovered during screening will not be permitted inside and must be returned to the individual’s vehicle.

The screenings will apply to everyone entering through public hospital entrances, including employees, patients and visitors.

Geisinger encourages visitors to allow extra time before appointments to complete the screening process.